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I just spent time playing Bechstein's at a large Bechstein dealer and saw both the C.Bechstein and plain Bechstein on the floor. I asked him (albeit a saleperson and part-owner) what if any, the difference was.He says: they are both made in Germany, but the plain Bechstein (without the C.) is not an original Bechstein design, but a Samick design, and all parts are Samick made, and Germany assembled. The original C.Bechstein remains the same great piano, but the other Bechstein is similar to the Essex or Boston except it is actually assembled in Germany (Berlin?).

I did play it and well, not really a C.Bechstein at all.. not really impressive at all. That may in fact, be cheapening the C.Bechstein legacy.

Now why would a company use inexpensive Korean parts to assemble a piano with high dollar German labor? That doesn't make any sense. Not doubting you, just asking. That's completely backwards to the "German parts assembled in China/Korea" type logic. I just don't see the logic of that one.

You're right. This may cheapen the Bechstein name.

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I chime in just to express my opinion about all the "+or- C." Bechstein matter.To me the there are two points to deal with in the discussion.

1) Are the "new" plain Bechstein's much different in quality than C. Bechs?This is certainly interesting in order to understand the manufacturing standards beetween the two lines and to define which kind of marketing are they running.The cost between the two lines is half the price, though, so a comparison based on the price point is unfair; this leads to the point 2

2) As the price of, let's say, a Bechstein B228 is comparable ( a bit higher but still comparable) to a new Yamaha C7x the question is: which is better?

I have tried both and this is my opinion:

Yamaha has a better action, I'd say also a much "standard" action; you get a touch feeling which will mostly meet what you'll find in playing concerts around ( you'll mostly have Yamahas or Steinways).

Bechstein B228 action is not bad, but its quite different. Something I'd define "straight and direct response", which give the sensation of being a bit heavy touch on the surface. Just to give an example, a PP glissando is much easier on a Yamaha than on a B228. Is you buy one you must know it is a "different" action.

Yamaha x series has a better sound than previous serie; smoother and warmer. I like it.

Bechstein is better in my opinion; it sings better in mid and high section.

It is a matter of taste, at the end. The real question is about the reliability in the long period. I fell safe with Yamaha, I don't know with this new Bechsteins. At this regard the point 1) about standards in manufacturing comes to be important.

Hey CarpaYou're chiming in on a 10 year old thread. Since then it has been established that the C. Bechstein is the premiere line and the Bechstein is their academy series. There have been numerous threads in the last 10 years discussing the difference between the two lines.

Yeah, and actually did they not change the whole set up again recently from 'Academy' series to 'B' series? I don't know if they changed the actual instruments or just the name of the series.

Anyway they're good pianos and priced right I think. The C. Bechsteins are probably too expensive though - I mean, they are superb pianos but they are probably the most expensive make, above even Bosendorfer, Fazioli and Steinway in the UK.

I like the new C. Bechstein pianos but I kind of wish they'd based their tone more on the early 20th century instruments. The upright 8 is still in that family but the grands seem to owe more to Hamburg these days.

Bluthner too, when you compare the pianos from 1890 to 1940 to the latest ones, well, I love them but I feel that the original voice has been lost somewhere. Both of my Bluthners have a full, rich and singing treble, and a balanced and sustained bass. I feel the latest ones are a bit thin and lack sustain in the top.

C bechstein leave nothing to be desired except for the tone seems to sound like every other piano.

Although I am familiar with historically significant recordings on old Bluthners and Bechsteins, and agree that those sounds are unique, I completely disagree that the new renditions of same are anonymous and sound like everything else on the market. That's just not the case.

(and now back to a 10 year old thread that should not have been revived)

Although I am familiar with historically significant recordings on old Bluthners and Bechsteins, and agree that those sounds are unique, I completely disagree that the new renditions of same are anonymous and sound like everything else on the market. That's just not the case.

(and now back to a 10 year old thread that should not have been revived)

Although I am familiar with historically significant recordings on old Bluthners and Bechsteins, and agree that those sounds are unique, I completely disagree that the new renditions of same are anonymous and sound like everything else on the market. That's just not the case.

(and now back to a 10 year old thread that should not have been revived)

Why not?

I agree! Why not? There's a treasure trove of information in the older threads. Just in reading this one today I discovered that "Larry" used to post here, and was apparently banned multiple times, but hasn't posted in nearly ten years! To me it's interesting to see the turnover of names. Norbert seems to be the only one posting in this thread who still posts today.

I agree with the 'why not' mostly. However it can be annoying when a thread is resurrected by someone who fails to realize they're replying to an old thread where for instance the 'facts' or circumstances have changed since (which is the case here). Or when someone posts a 'should I buy x or y' thread and someone replies to it 5 years after the poster already bought their piano. Threads that unfold like that can be very confusing to someone who comes here looking for info. But sometimes bringing back an old thread can be really cool when a topic picks up years later with a new perspective on things. But in my 8 years here, more often then not I see old threads brought back by someone posting about something that's now irrelevant or posting because they don't know how (or are too lazy:) to start a new thread.